25-year-old Imprisoned For Human Trafficking

A 25-year-old man charged with human trafficking was yesterday remanded in Ikoyi prisons by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The accused, Paul Osasu, who resides at Ojo barracks, Lagos, is being prosecuted by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, NAPTIP, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and human trafficking.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge but the judge, Justice Musa Kurya, ordered that he be remanded in custody pending bail application by his counsel.

The prosecutor, told the court that the accused was arrested on July 17, 2012, at the Ojo barracks by officials of the agency, allegedly in the business of human trafficking, as he conspired with one Elizabeth Arikoro, who is now at large, to lure one Beauty Imagbenikaro away from her home town in Edo State.

The accused was alleged to have taken Imagbenikaro, 20, from her residence in Benin to Lagos, with a promise to offer her a factory job. On reaching Lagos, he again told the victim that he would prepare traveling documents for her to Mali, where she will secure a better Job opportunity.

According to the prosecutor, the accused was later arrested by NAPTIP officials, following a tip off.

The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of section 15 of the Trafficking in person (prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003, and attracts a term of 14 years imprisonment upon conviction, without an option of fine.


Culled from Vanguard